LPS

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), also known as lipoglycans and endotoxins, are large molecules consisting of a lipid and a polysaccharide composed of O-antigen, outer core and inner core joined by a covalent bond; they are found in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, and elicit strong immune responses in animals.

Structure

The term lipooligosaccharide ("LOS") is used to refer to a low-molecular-weight form of bacterial lipopolysaccharides.

The O antigen (also known as O polysaccharide) is attached to the core oligosaccharide, and comprises up to 40 repeating units of a four- or five-sugar residue sequence.

Function

Lipopolysaccharides play an important role in bacterial pathogenicity. They are, for example, essential in the functioning of bacterial outer membrane proteins.

Medical relevance

Lipopolysaccharides are considered pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and can trigger an immune response in animals. They can cause fever, changes in white blood cell counts, and other typical symptoms of infection and inflammation.

See also

• Gram-negative bacteria
• Endotoxin
• O antigen
• Bacterial outer membrane proteins

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References

External links

• Lipopolysaccharides at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
• Lipopolysaccharides in the NCBI taxonomy browser

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